Stop Making Excuses – Get On Your Bike!

Stop Making Excuses – Get On Your Bike!

Most of us know the need to make allowances for the sake of the environment. Yet too often, the suggested tweaks seem like huge changes that society as a whole is not ready for. We have become too used to the convenience of modern life. Worse yet, we can all summon up ready excuses for not altering our behaviour, and we kid ourselves into believing they’re reasonable. One such example is cycling; we all know we should, but precious few of us do. Here’s a rundown of some of those oh-so-justifiable excuses, to get on your bike, and why they’re wrong.

Stop Making Excuses – Get On Your Bike!

1. “Cycling is going to make me sweat!”

This may seem like the most valid of all potential excuses. Cycling is exercise, and the inevitable consequence of this is sweat. This is the main argument used against cycling to work.
However, an increasingly large number of facilities have showers on site. Furthermore, much of the sweating issue can be controlled by appropriate clothing for the journey. Also, consider changing when you arrive, with the slight concession of leaving earlier.

Get On Your Bike – Appropriate Clothing

2. “The car is more convenient!”

In a car, you sit in an air-conditioned box and usually drive on some form of auto-pilot. A bicycle means paying constant attention in return for getting to your destination slower. Put in those terms; a car does seem more convenient.

Get On Your Bike – Trafic In Moscow

With that said, a car also has to drive through endless congestion. A cyclist, taking the same route, can take advantage of ever-more popular cycle lanes to whizz through the traffic, getting there in time as well as staying in shape. Furthermore, many businesses now offer financial incentive schemes to get two wheels on the road instead of four.

3. “I don’t have enough space for a bike!”

This argument is used both for storing a bike at home and for what to do with it should you have cycled to work. Thankfully, we’re not talking about penny-farthings regarding the space required for modern bikes. If space is a premium, consider a folding bike that even the smallest of storage spaces should be able to accommodate. Options include the Dahon Speed D7.

Get On Your Bike – For driving safe, obligatory helmet and …

4. “It’s not safe.”

This is countered by a simple truth: neither is travelling by any other form of transport. The key to bike safety is to wear appropriate safety gear. This should include the obligatory helmet, but knee and elbow pads can help lessen any potential impact.
It’s also worth remembering that bikes will be going at much slower speeds than traditional vehicles. This can reduce the impact in more ways than one.

Get On Your Bike – …. knee and elbow pads

5. “Bikes are expensive!”

While true, any other method of transport is going to have associated costs. If you’re struggling with the upfront cost of a bike, consider pre-loved items from auction sites or listings. You can also look for rental options to see if the cycling lifestyle agrees with you without taking the plunge.

Get On Your Bike – Any other method of transport is going to have associated costs

Bearing all these in mind, the reasons for not cycling don’t stack up. Help your health and give the environment a boost at the same time, and quite literally get on your bike.